Dental apparatus



Dec. 16, 1952 M. scHLEslNGER' 2,621,407

DENTAL APPARATUS Filed July 12, 1951 Patented Dec. 16, 1952 UNITED f STATES PATENT .OFFICE DENTAL APPARATUS Milton Schlesinger, Jamaica, N. Y.

Application uly 12, 1951, Serial No. 236,310

` 1 This invention is an improvement in dental apparatus, and more particularly an appliance in the form of a stand with means for supporting and adjusting modelsr conforming to the inside of the human mouth.

An object isto provide a stand having members to which the mod-els carrying teeth of porcelain or other suitable lmaterial can be readily attached, and which are so mounted that said members can be replaced or-shifted in every way reyquired to give the desired results. l

The main purpose of my device or appliance, in general, is to give an operator a neat, easy, practical method of securing models to an articu- .lator or other unit, without the aid lof any adhesive materials; so as to facilitate the removal of the models, and the replacement thereof on thev artlculator stand, in .their proper positions; and the adjustment/of Ythe models to the extent and in the manner required. The models can thus vbe given form with bases of predetermined size and shape.

Heretofore dental models have been retained in place on various types of articulat-ors by means of plaster of Paris or other adhesive materials, thus producing a more or less permanent bond with the articulator. In -cases of necessary adjustment or where steps of construction required rem-oval of these models, the operator has been compelled either to break the models loose from the arti-culator or else dismount the part of the articulator to which they were attached.

I believe this condition has existed because no apparatus had been heretofore produced to compensate fo-r the various sizes of models obtained from'impressions of different sizes corresponding to the dimensions of the individual arches and dentit-ion of the human mouth.

In the accompanying drawings some preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated, yand the details of construction may of course be vvarie-d in numerous ways without deviating from the general combinations defined in the appended claims.

On said drawings,

Figure 1 shows a side view of the complete apparatus according to my invention.

Figure 2 is -a horizontal section @n line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6 are perspective views of i adjustable retaining frames used in the operation of my invention. Figure 7 is a sectional view of a detail. Figure 8 is a top view of a holding member for supporting the model in the stand; and

Cil

3 Claims. (Cl. 32-32) Figure 9 isa section on line 9-9 of Figure 8.

The device includes an adjustable :post oli' standard I which is affixed in upright position to the base 2. The topsection 3 of this standard curves over land'downward and is secured in po;- sition to the upright part ofv the standard lby means of perforatedears I a4 and 3c, the latter having threads to engage a tightening s-crew 4. The section 3 can thus be adjusted up'xand down as needed. The post I ,has an upper Isection Ib, Iat the lower end of which is a shank 5 that telescopes into thetop of the principallength of the post I, to permit additional adjustment, as ywill be described later. Y v Q In the operation of ithe device, molding or shaping frames indicated as a whole by the'numeral E are utilized to` receive the models or impressi-ons of the upper and lower parts ofpatients mouth. These frames comprise movable sections, so that the size can be regulated;'and afterthe models are produced they are each transf-erred to 'a holding or locking 'member E (Figure 8). The locking or mounting members 6' are attached to -plates .or supports 'I having down-turned lugs 8 at the rims to mount binding screws 9. Three such lugswith binding screws are provided for each platerat equal distances apart, and when the frames 6 are set within the compass of these lugs and the screws tightened, they are held firmly in position. The frames in question encircle the modelsmade of suitablematerial, and by means ofthe post I and the manner of mounting the two plates 7 any desired adjustment ofthe plates lrelative to each other can be obtained.

The top plater I has on its upper facea central stem or shank I2 carrying a cup-shaped bearing element I3, and the downturned section 3 of the standard carries at its outer end a stud I IIV with a spherical bearing member I5 at its lower end. The cup-shaped member or socket envelops the spherical bearing member I5 and by means oi screw I6 on the member I3 anyposition of adjustment can be maintained. With thi-s ball-an-d-socket connection the rtop'element 'I can be tilted in any direction. j

Y The lower plate 'I carries on its under face a similar socket or Ycup-shaped member I3- that envelops a ball I5 onta stem,"standard or shank I4, which is mountedin a socket I1, also having a binding screw I6. The socket I1 rises from a block I8, the sides of which are inclined so that the block has a dovetailed shape, to slide in a similarly shaped groove I9 in the top face of a supporting block 20. Theposition ofthe block I3 is fixed by means of a binding screw 2I in the block 20. On the base is another fixed member 22 having undercut sides indicated at 23, and the block 20 also has a dovetailed channel in its lower face which fits the top of the block 22, so that the block 20 can be moved thereon. The member 22 is really part of the base and could of course be made in one piece therewith. The channelfintheunder face of the block 2U and the block 22 .areiat right angles to the channel I9 in the upper face, and the block 20 can also be fixed in position on the block 22 by a binding screw 2 I. Hence the lower plate 1 can not only be tilted in any direction but it can be shifted in two directions at right angles to each other, so that .it can be adjusted correctly with respect to the upper plate 1.

The molding frames indicated at Figures 3, 4, and 6 are all similarto one another in construction. They are preferably made of strips of .suitable material; 'the A`form shown in `Figure 3 'comprisingztwo sections 24, Aone 'end 'of 'each being bent into-alinement Withlthe'adjacentend of the other-'to vbring said endsin opposing positions; Vsaid-'ends being :spanned by a connector 25 with overturned edges 26 slidably'engaging the ends of the strips 24 along their lateral edges. The remaining portions `of the vstrips 24 are bent tofwards'eachother'and are bridged by a Vbent section`21,.the edges at "the .ends ofwhich are bent over to -form :retaining anges or guideways 23; .engaging the 'edges of the 'sections 24 along the sides. The aline'd extremities of the sections 24 have lugs 28 and the opposite ends ofthe strips 24 lextend'Jbeyon'd'the section 21 and have bent out lugs 30. YThe size 'of this frame can be ad- .jus'ted byzpulling'thepart 21 outward and by movlng :apart the two members 24 Ato enlarge the iframe. fI'h'elsize is decreased bypressing together 'the lugs`29 and .thezlugs 30 "and moving the part l21 inward. Owing to the convergence of the par-ts of 'thels'trips 24 having the Vlugs 30 at the ,ends and theinclinationofthe sides of the section i211, the pressing 'together of these ends tends to .'forcethe-.part 2.1 towards'the part 25 and thus .facilitates giving this frame a smaller compass. The part '21 "has'the approximate shape of a U withthe .arms at the sides 'diverging, carrying the .longiben't kover edges or flanges 28 Vand making 'an .angle with .the V.base or part connecting said arms; .and said base Aconsisting of ,short 'straight `lengths .with a bend in the middle. 'Thus press- 4ing-the :sections 24 towards each .other tends, by a sort of cam effect, to move the section 21 towards `the connector 25. Thepart 21 can of course have :other shapes if desired.

In IFigure .4 lthe framecomprises two over- .lapping portions or-sections 24a, one of which has .bentedgesor nangesZBa at its sides to engage the edges of the other; .and .a piece 21a which is approximately U-shaped as before and is secured to the opposite .bent .up ends of the parts 24a. Said ends have Yturned over edgesmaking flanges f28a-to engage the edges of the two arms of the member or section 21a. The extremities of `the .member 21a havelugs 30. The size of this unit is increased .or .decreased by sliding the members v24am/ith respect .to Vone another and moving the member `21u .in the anges 28a.

'The frame shown in Figure -5 has a bent suitably V-shaped member 2lb, with short flanges 2811, vsimilar in `shape to the part 21 shown in yFigure .13, cooperating with .two side members .2 4b. .The .latter are bent .so that theyy overlap at one end, beyond the anged extremities of the section 21h, one of these overlapping ends having bent over projections at the sides making anges 26h to engage the other end. The part 21h is inside the parts 24h, and its ilanges 28h secure the parts 24h. The three parts can also be moved for adjusting the size of the frame with the same effect as in Figure 3, and the remaining ends of the parts 24h have projecting lugs 30.

The main Apart-.of the post I has ,asocket 32 in its upper end to receive .thelshank of the section Ib. The shank 5 is adjustably secured in the `socket 32 by a binding screw 32a..

My invention also comprises the supporting or locking frame or member 6' corresponding in construction to the members 6. The frame 6' has three diagonal arms 33 affixed to one edge of its three parts. One arm is joined to the middle of the U-shaped part 21. Another arm 33 is secured to each part 24' at the V-two corners adjacent the inner ends of the part or strip 21. These arms are all longitudinally slotted. The 'slotted farms intersect Aand cross at one point 'to allow Ya "bolt B4 to pass through. -This bolt can be locked .by means of anger nut 35 to lockall'parts of Atheframe in position. The size ofthe frame A'6' can therefore be adjustable. The parts 24 havethe retaining 'anges 25'..

The frame 6' .ofligure '8 resembles most 'closely the frame 6 Vof `VFigure 3. However, the 'form shown in Figures '4 and 5 can'lik'ewisebe'adapted to have arms 33 added, ias will be obvious.

This member 6 is intended for .mounting or locking the models Aon `the stand illustrated "in Figure 1. The bolt 34 is attached to a 'socket in the shank I2, vpassing through ahole in the plate 1. An additional ,binding'screw A35 `in the side 'of the shank I2 makes the locking member .6' ffast. An upper and Ya lower member Ii are of 'course employed. Any Vtype of moldingmember y'can 'of course be utilized withmyiapparatu's.

The operator starts vfirst with the 'impression of .the patients mouth. This impressionis boxed in one of the adjustable molding members shown in Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6. A model is then formed by pouring the desired'material into this member, covering the impression and lling the member. When themodel material is hardened, the member 'is removed. The model of course 'has a base of a pre-'determined form .and size, according to th'eshap'e ofthe inside of the molding member. The models Aare then transferred 'to the frames 6'..

The upper .and lower-frames 6' attachedtothe varticulator or stand of Figure 1 'are .adjustable and the interior 'outline Vof each (frame 6' corresponds'identically with 'the inside of themolding frames E 'containing the impressions 'or models. The vframes 6" are fixed tothe ,plates '1, Yas above described.

As the base of 'each poured model will have the same outline form of the inside of its molding frame 6, so likewise will this base be identical in form with the inside of the mounting or locking frame 26 attached to the articu1ator,an'd receiving the model.

Upon placingthe models into `frames 6' and tighteningthe latter about the 'models therein, a secure means for readily and perfectly attaching the models and frames to the stand I -is obtained.

Should the model have to be removed, the frame E is loosened, and the model isv extracted. Replacement is easy and simple, as all parts are similar in shape-replacing and reti'ghtening are all that is required.

Figure 6 shows another and simpler type of frame 6a. consisting of two angle pieces 6b, each with a long side 6c and a short side 6d connected by an end Se. This frame is assembled by laying the long sides over the short sides, the short sides having bent over projections Bf at the edges to act as guides for the long sides so that the frame can be shortened or lengthened. A mounting frame with arms 33 as illustrated in Figure 8 can be produced to resemble this outline also.

The shank 5 and socket 32 also permit swing adjustment of the part 3 and upper plate 1, in addition to up and down adjustment about the axis of the screw 4.

The molding members 6 can also have looking means, such as the slotted arms 33 affixed to the parts thereof in the same Way as the frame 6', for securing the models or impressions therein.

Having described my invention, what I believe to be new is:

l. Apparatus of the kind described comprising a base, an adjustable standard thereon, a supporting element, means comprising a ball joint for adjustably connecting said element to the standard, a supporting element adjacent the base, means for mounting said last-named element to shift same with respect to said base into alinement with the first-named element, and means comprising a ball joint for adjustably connecting said last-named element with said mounting means, said mounting means comprising a membei' supported by said base to be shifted in one direction, and a second member disposed on the rst to be shifted in another direction.

2. Apparatus of the kind described comprising a base, an adjustable standard thereon, a supporting element, means comprising a ball joint for adjustably connecting said element to the standard, a supporting element adjacent the base, means for mounting said last-named element to shift same with respect to said base into alinement with the first-named element, and means comprising a ball joint for adjustably connecting said last-named element with said mounting means, said mounting means comprising a member supported by said base to be shifted in one direction, and a second member disposed on the rst to be shifted in another direction, said second member having guideways in its upper and lower faces.

3. Apparatus of the kind described comprising a supporting plate, a stem, a ball-and-socket joint for adjustably maintaining said plate in position on the stem, retaining means carried by the plate, the apparatus also having a mounting member for said stem, an upright socket for said stem on said member, means for adjustably securing said stem in said socket, said member being disposed to move in one direction, and a second member on which said rst member is supported and having a channel slidably re- REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,910,592 Craigo May 23, 1933 2,510,152 Stoll June 6, 1950 

